Tourner dans le vide

To claim Huálíng was merely "busy" would be a prize-winning understatement. She was the perpetual whirlwind, sprinting from one project to the next like a girl on a mission. Currently, she was in charge of a community workshop that focussed on different folklores and myths, annual events celebrating different cultures, a youth mentorship program where young individuals could learn about their heritage, a superstition awareness campaign, a future leaders program, setting up an interactive cultural learning centre, starting up a fundraiser, taking care of the royal program and—

Right. She was in perpetual motion. It wasn't shocking that her social connections were few, except for Maeve, the girl who had planted herself firmly in Huálíng's heart and soul. She was Huálíng's best friend, her zhījǐ, for a lack of a better term in the common tongue.

And then there was Míngzé, the little brother she'd adopted after falling for the girl she could never quite shake off. It might have been foolish to stay connected with him, but some bonds were hard to sever. Huálíng had always sidestepped settling and avoided lasting ties, but family was supposed to be the exception, right?

With only a sliver of free time today, Huálíng should have been lounging on her couch at home. Instead, she made sure to show up for the promised meeting with the boy in question. Racing from her previous project, the future leaders program, she arrived a few minutes late at the agreed-upon spot.

Bursting through the doors, all eyes instantly fixated on her. Huálíng, in a knee-length green dress baring her shoulders, adorned with high white heels and her hair elegantly tied up with a white ribbon.

Míngzé! Wǒ de dìdì, wǒ lái wǎn le, duì bù qǐ! she rattled off the words in rapid-fire, almost blending them together, before dropping into the seat opposite him. Did you order? Are you alright? I missed you! Wait let me, and she sprang up again, pulling him into a tight hug. You’re so skinny! We should get something nice to eat.


* 我的弟弟，我来晚了，对不起！;
My little brother, i’m late, sorry!

Huálíng brushed off any sense of awkwardness, unabashed in her approach to physical contact. She enthusiastically wrapped her arms around the young man, drawing him into a tight embrace, playfully jostling him like an affectionate aunt would with her nephew. Despite the romantic chapter between Huálíng and Lányù being closed, Huálíng considered him a little brother, forever sweet in her eyes.

Her little dìdì complained that she was breaking his back, prompting a theatrical response from Huálíng, If you had a bit more padding, your back would’ve been just fine! It might not have made complete sense, but it didn't matter. She shook him again for good measure before releasing him, nonchalantly settling back into her seat. Unconcerned with the attention they drew, she continued.

It's because you're not eating well, my xiǎo dì. Are you taking care of yourself? University can be tough, right? Don't forget to sleep and eat. Oh! I have some fantastic advice if you need help maintaining a good study rhythm...